Valve Steam Controller

Pros

Dual trackpads provide precise, mouse-like navigation.
Dongle supports up to four controllers on a single machine.
Customizable control schemes.
Theoretically works with all Steam games, regardless of operating system.
Responsive grip triggers.

Cons

Bottom Line

The Valve Steam Controller brings some overdue PC gaming innovations to the familiar console gamepad, but it feels like a work in progress.

10 Nov 2015

Imaginative Nintendo peripherals aside, the video game controller has been somewhat stuck in place after reaching its current, agreed-upon form many years ago. We've seen small tweaks like the rumble triggers on the Microsoft Xbox One controller or the light bar on the Sony PlayStation 4's DualShock 4, but the amount and arrangement of buttons and analogs sticks has remained mostly unchanged.

However, for PC gamers, a keyboard-and-mouse combo is king, not a controller. And as Valve attempts to merge PC- and console-gaming sensibilities with its Steam Machine initiative, it realizes that the controller as we previously knew it isn't going to fly. The Steam Controller ($49.99) is Valve's solution for providing the best of both worlds for video game control schemes. The device's innovations excite, but its mediocre build quality and lingering compatability issues suggest the hardware is still a work in progress.

Design The Steam Controller has gone through several revisions since it was first revealed two years ago. The initial design featured little more than the two circular trackpads placed where analog sticks usually go, but the final model is less radical by comparison. It sports four face buttons, four triggers, and a single analog stick, which are inputs you'll find on most other game controllers. To power the controller, you can either plug it into a Steam Machine over micro USB or use two AA batteries. (Note: It will stay powered if you keep it plugged in over micro USB, but it won't hold a charge without batteries.)

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About the Author

Former PCMag intern Jordan Minor is a senior editor at sister site, Geek.com, and really just wants to use his fancy Northwestern University journalism degree to write about video games. He's previously written for Kotaku, The A.V. Club, Cards Against Humanity, and 148Apps. In his spare time, he also writes dumb screenplays that occasionally become dumb movies. Follow Jordan on Twitter at @JordanWMinor. See Full Bio